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An anonymous reader writes "Back in late 2012, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attributed the increase in statistical city-wide crime to Apple, noting that thieves had a propensity to target folks using iPhones and iPads. As an illustration of the problem, there were 3,890 more Apple product thefts than in 2012 than there were in 2011. At the time, Mayor Bloomberg's press secretary Marc La Vorgna explained that 'if you just took away the jump in Apple', crime in New York City would have been down year over year. Indeed, the number of major crimes reported in 2011 in NYC came in at 104,948 compared to 108.432 in 2012. If you exclude Apple related thefts from the figures, then the crime rate in 2012 is essentially the same as it was in 2011. In light of that, a new report from the New York Post details that Apple is now working with the NYPD in an effort to curb iPhone and other Apple related thefts."

Correct. Why is this such a difficult concept in the US? I use an unlocked iPhone in Australia. If it is stolen I promptly contact my telco, identify myself and they permanently deny that phone access to any network in my country. I buy a newer model phone and the dick who took my phone has a paperweight. I claim the loss on my home insurance and pay the insurance excess of a few hundred dollars and no market is created for stolen iPhones.

Someone files a false police report and someone's phone is bricked
Then the police department and the wireless service provider are both at fault for not verifying your identity and your ownership of the phone.